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For my pre-agented writer friends:Because so few larger publishing houses are open to unagented submissions, I take note of changes of personnel and policies. Two of Penguin Young Readers "open" imprints, Dutton and Dial, announced in the January 27th PW Children's Bookshelf the following, "Julie Strauss-Gabel has been named v-p and publisher of Dutton Children's Books, effective immediately. She was previously associate publisher. Dutton will become a 'boutique middle grade and young adult imprint with a focus on titles of exceptional literary quality and strong commercial appeal,' according to a statement from Penguin. The imprint will now publish 10-15 titles per year. Dial Books for Young Readers, under president and publisher Lauri Hornik, will expand from 50 titles to 75 titles per year, and will incorporate a number of authors and illustrators previously published by Dutton." Hmmm.markPopular(45928); Related Topics and Links:

If you are planning school visits, check out this great websitehttp://schoolvisitexperts.com/ for information on how to organize your visit and optimize communication with school personnel. They offer general how-to and how-not-to tips from pros, too.

I'm recommending Inbound Marketing by Brian Halligan and Dharmesh Shah as a must-read for anyone with a website. The book helps you understand how to get readers to your website using Google, blogs, and other social media. It's written in readible language so non-techies like me can easily grasp the concepts and put them to use immediately. Read, go forth, and conquer!

Don't miss this opportunity for a free substantial edit of your MG or YA manuscript by a true professional in the children's book world. Freelance editor and writer, Deborah Halverson, is holding a contest for the edit. Even if you don't have a manuscript ready to send by January 31st, sign up for the feeds from her incredibly helpful blog at http://dear-editor.com/. Here is a blurb about Deborah from her blog:Deborah Halverson is the author of the upcoming Writing Young Adult Fiction for Dummies (June 2011) and has been working with authors—bestsellers, veterans, debut, and aspiring—for over fifteen years. The books she’s edited have garnered awards and rave reviews, and many of the aspiring writers she’s coached have landed agent representation and lucrative book deals.Good luck!